Wow, That's a tough meds schedule to keep up with. I'm glad you can
keep it straight. I know it would be a challenge for me. You are
also fortunate to not have a seizure for more than a year. I would
love to reach that point again. The breakthrough seizures I have are
frustrating but I am learning to live with them. I need to ask my
doctor, and I have a new neurologist because my previous one retired.
I want to learn more about the different medications we all take. The
first question I have is which ones are new to the market. I have read
there are many that are just being made available and I don't know
their differences. Dilantin and Phenabarb have been around for many
years. Carbatrol has been around for some time also. If anyone is
using on of the new medications, how much success are they having? Any
side effects?
Thanks everyone for your support. I'm learning a lot about how we each deal with this.
CBI
--- On Tue, 4/28/09, mylmy@bnin.net <mylmy@bnin.net> wrote:
From: mylmy@bnin.net <mylmy@bnin.net>
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Taking more than one medication
To: epilepsy@yahoogroup
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 1:16 AM
CBI,
For me it was up to the Dr. I have nothing to do with it.
I was taking 4 brand name Dilantin and the blood level
told him that was too much. So I take 3 Dilantin Mon, Wed
and Fri and 4 the other days.I also take 4- 30 mg phenabarb
a day. I have my blood levels checked twice a year and again
if I have a sz. I have a physical once a year and a check up
6 months later. I have been on this for over 20 years. He
also has my liver, kidneys, sugar etc. checked.(blood test)
I take 2 Dilantin ,2 phenabarb and an Evista (osteoporosis)
in the AM and on Mon, Wed, and Fri I take 1 Dilantin, 2 phenabarb
and aspirin. The other days I take 2 Dilantin, 2 phenabarb and
an aspirin at night.
My last sz was 2 years ago and before that it was 4 years.
I used to have grand mal szs but now they are more like complex
partials. My girls say my brain is scrambled for about 2 days.
I don't pass out but I also am not my normal self. I don't smile,
act like I don't hear you, don't ask questions and then can't
answer questions.
Millie
> The only time I've taken more than one medication was when I switched
> from Dilantin to Tegretal. This was a phase out phase in approach and it
> worked for me, no seizures during the transition. I had been on dilantin
> so long that I had conficence even though it didn't completely stop my
> seizures. I was not as sure with tegretal at first only because I was
> not familiar with it. At first I thought while still taking Dilantin,
> at a lower dose and taking Tegretal, why not stay on those dosages. It
> was not my doctor's decision nor intent.
>
> What I'm not sure about is when is the decision made to take more than
> one medication?
>
> How long have members taken two or more typed of medications? The
> one negative effect is the strain it places on your liver or other
> organs. How do you manage that?
>
> Are there long lasting effects that raise concerns?
>
> How do you manage the medication blood levels to keep control?
>
> How do you tell when to increase one medication and not another?
>
> Any experiences you have or and guidelines from your doctors would
> help.
>
> Do you take each medication at different times during a day?
>
> If you think of other information that would help understand how this
> is a benefit and positive or negative experience please include them.
>
> What about side effects. Can the two interfere with one another and
> cause headaches or tremors? By all means if it results in months or
> years of being seizure free, that would be great however the other
> factors need to be considered especially side effects and strain on
> other parts of the body. Thanks for your support.
>
>
>
> CBI
>
>
>
>
>
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